Orifice exchanger



B, E. ANDERSON 2,448,071

ORIFICE EXCHANGER I I Aug. 31, 194s.' A

Filed Aug. 12, 1944 1N V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 31, 14948 UNITED sfrTs s OFFICE oRIFIcEExcnaNGER Y. A ertxE.v Anderson, Los Angeles, Calif; y i 'application Angustia, magisterialNo.15 49;226 i continuous ow of gas line While the plate is being and after it has been exchangers have been used-"Which embody av suitable casing connected at opposite extremities with a pipe through which thel gas or liquid flows and in -whichf'oriiicefplatesare mounted betweenl saidextremitiesfAn yoriice plate is transversely disposed across'the liiovv "channel of a pipe and has a single orifice thereinA which should be concentric With'fthe ow channel of" the casing andpipe--for aording accurate i'ef sults. Separate connections vwith an oriflcem'eter 2 o or'liquid through the pipe transferred, Also, by the structure mentioned, themovable memberwith the orifice plate therein may be bodily removed from the stationary member for the purpose of cleaning the plate, substi# tutionof ,a diiferentplate therefor, or for other purposes.v

Still another object is the provision of suitable means for centering and conning the orificeV plate in operative position relative lto the pipe lineand the channel in the stationary member through which `thegas or liquid is adapted to flow. f` l ther objects will appear as the description of myr improvements progresses. I

I haveshown 'a preferredform of structure ein# bodying my improvements inthe accompanying drawing, subject to modication, within the -scope of the -appended claims, Withoutvdeparting are vprovided on the opposite sides of the *orifice plate so that diiferent recordings'fmaybem'ade on the metervfor theup-stream or approachdown-stream volumes and pressures. y

Various types of exchangers-are'incommercial and the f use, at least someof which are for /many'reaQ-` sons inadequate and unsatisfactory particularly because the orifice plate'isfrnountedadjacentsections of pipeand therefore requires a'complete shut-down cfa system'` or the installation of a by-pass, either of whichlexpedients is'unnecessarily expensive and: occasions undue'loss'.

necessary to occasionally clean the orice plates or to vary vthe size oftheorifce ina plateythus requiring the shut-down orv lay-passing `of thegasor liquid for arperiod of time while th'ebrice isenlarged or a substituteplateis installed. Hence, it is an object of this invention to pro-rvide an exchanger embodying'a casingattachable at its opposite extremities to different sections of a pipe line and provided with'nieansfo operatively but removably supportingithe .orice' plate, whereby the plate may bei retracted 'from' its operative position andzcleanedor bodily ref 1 moved for any 'purpose'from its casing. without.

occasioninga stoppage'of the pipeline.

A further object is to provide af casing em-V bodying stationary 'and relatively movable 'members each of which-is arranged toadju'stably receiVe and support the orifice'V plate,v the stationary member servingVV to operatively `supportV the plate while the'movable membery inoperativelyy'k supports thevsameg andlvalve means v carried bythe -stationaryniember kfor closing the vopening in the'stationar'ymember, thereby perinittinga-355` arranged on opposite sides oftheorice platevD.

fromv the spirit of vmy invention. Insaid drawing: Fig. 1 is alvertical section of an orice lexchanger embodying my improvements as seen on une of Fig-2; o a Fig. 2*'is anV elevationof the same partlyin section on line 2-.2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section of the v alve in the plane of the sectional portion of Fig. v2 in which the Valve is shown in plate scraping orcleaning position;

the-valve closed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation similar to-Fig. `1 Y except that the movable section of the exchanger casing has beeny removed from the stationary portion thereof and Aa plate closure has been ap-` plied in lieu thereof; g o f Fig. 6 isa fragmentary section on line B`6 of Fig. 1; and f Fig. '7 is an en plane of Fig. 2.

Brieiiy described. my orifice exchanger includes a stationary casing A adapted to be connected at itsj opposite extremities I andA 2 with 5 pipes -P and P1', respectively, which form parts of apipeline for the transmission of gas or liquid; a relatively movable and removable section B centrally superposed onv casing A and preferably hinged theretoas at 3 and additionally xed to member A as by means of bolts 4;' a valve C carried by member A, an oriiice plate D mounted intermediate the pipe sections P and P1 and a recording meter M connected witlf'i'the up-streamv and down-stream passages E-and E', respectively,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the valve shown in the same plane as that of Fig. 3 but showingv larged fragmentary view in the Pipe sections P and P1 may be connected with the extremities I and 2, respectively, of the casing A by any suitable means but as herein shown such connections are made by welded joints formed in such a manner that the passages E and E are perfectly smooth and free from internal projections or roughness throughout their extent in order that undue turbulence will not be created in said passages, particularly on the upstream section thereoof. The entire.,structureonl the exchanger unit is strong and more orf-lessmassive so as to withstand extreme high pressures.

The members A and B., as shown in Figs. .1 and 2, are formed with transversely opposite and vertically alined grooves 6 and B.a 'in'.whiohyop..

posite peripheral portions of thez orifice plate seat are slidable, the grooves 6 and 6^-being connected at their lower extremities by an arcuate continue ing portion 6a in member A. Members A and B also.have matingchambers. 1 andi', .formed therein= at f the laterall marginsof which the. grooves .6 and 6. areformed, as shown. Valve` C," is horizontally mounted inmember A for krotation and. is. formed with .an inner. cylindrical. portion` 8 `seated in a shallow bore 9,a ,cutaway segmental valve portion. I 0 -extendedY.transversely through the chamber 1', an outer cylindrical portionl I seated in `a bore I2 formed in a lateralextension I3 and` anexternal wrench. or. handle receiving portion I4 by ymeans of which said valve may be rotated.. NippleIS carriesv a suita ble packing gland .whichfinclfudes an external'` cup-like member I6 threaded on to nipple I3`and servingat the same time to hold .thervalvein operative position, as by means ofa pin l orE flange I'I xedto portion II of the valve anlconned between the 'gland I5 and member-ligas `shown, in Fig. 1or otherwise.. The form of `valve C issuch that Whenthe'valve is rotated to the 'pc'Jsitiorr.shown. in.Fig.r 4 the portion Illthereof will-seal theY chamber;v 'I'l in Member. .A .ispreyidededthedewnlstreem.side

of plate D with a circular groove I9 for Areceiving .I eedheldnee .split :peeking fine. ...Frei .sdteble form but as herein shown said ring has apevelled, outer periphery. and a flat innerv peripheryland presents enst. ieee V2.0 tothe. dewrtstreetd .side ,2l i ofvx plate D. The bottom of, platevD is ,chamfereld en- ,eepesite sidesv .et 22 eed. .23. ie erderethet teev plate may be readily inserted in.. operative position. es it: passes the upstreamdeee .eff the .-rne.. the. ehamfered. portion 23. beine. adapted. te. rest.. against `a..correspondingly .chemfered portierl. .2111 ef the Jeettem; .259i member A.... Immediately below plete'Dfe threaded aperture, 2li-iis. .provided bottom k25 for receiving aserew 21, ,which serves..

es. er1. adjuster. for limiting.:thedewnyy'erd thrust..

OfpleteDte e pesition of` exact eeneentretywith respeettethe .Channels .Eet1-d-.EfE Itmerite .netedlll ,55 ;:edges,;at least on the up stream-side thereof, and.,

that the face 24 extends inwardly to a slight degree beyond the up-stream face of the plate D and serves as a fixed limiting element for the plate, While screw 21 serves as an adjustable limiting element for the plate. Screw 21 also serves as a plug for bore 2B and when removed permits of the draining of certain elements from the casing, such as sediment or cleaning solution.

Above channel E and opposite ring F, I provide acam projection which mayv.bewelded on the casing as `indicated in Fig. 2 and a cooperating lug 3l which may be welded on plate D and which are so arranged as to come into operation when the-plate D reaches the groove 6a to force the upper portion of the plate into sealing engagement with'. ring `F while the inwardly and downwardly Abevellecilwedge of the groove 6a guides the lower portion'oi the plate D into engagement withthe ring F.

the velye.y es .shewn .in -Fies-..2,. deed .e Redeeis removably extended lthrfnig-h Ithe .Y upper L end oav member. fB. endffs, settledA eeeinsteleetseee et-:its

point, of emergence from. mernberl;l as by means' ofe eeeventenetpaekine. Elend. and eeeeer atingclosure 35. @Saidarodis provided above member.- .B withl .e `handle .1,36 by means.; et. White-.i

thered may be turned fer'aueserewinathe seme from. melnber; .32 and ie additionally provided .f

withaflangeset collar on nut as at `3l abovethes.

chamber 1 when-it is intended toretractlplateD i upwardlyinto chamber; 1. Apressure ,lubricating l`element. 40 ;is;.applied -to member.4 A sothat asuit'- able lubricant; mayl be injected into .the valve .l chamber. Y and Aassociated f chambers 'I andi 'It through a passage .4 I..Y

Plate Dfhas a central. oriceOewhichzrhas sharp f must be. keptas free'as possible from-anaccuinu-.- lation of grit,sediment. or; other. elements in order.. to accurately measure .the flowandpressureslof. a gas orI liquiddeliveredfrompassage.Etoipassage E'- therethroug-hi Itrfis V*well-known tog. all. those who are .skilled inthe use of.. .ori'cdmeters-,that separate `recordings are` madepof the pressures. on@ opposite .sides ofthe orcejplate.v Henceiorthe. purpose of. properly connecting. the exchanger. withthe recording. memberv I provide .asa matter of .convenience a pair. or Ioutlets 442;.: 182;;f and 43, 43; at. fdiametricallyv opposite points on member tAfin order .that one 4.outlet of, each. pair on la selected .side `of, the. casing.mayf benoney nected with thei meter asby-means oftubesillJ and, 45., respectively, it beine -.11r1d.er.st00d. that. .the .two meter eenneetiens leed: fremf. eppesite sides die. streemenddownstream) ef the .ermee .plete :.-D-.l Tubes-.Mf-.end 45 ereeeeneeted with different. 1re.:- -feetding dddeetels Mend. eeeeretng eyerthe gland-:member 35 whereby. agerked; -teel may be inserted .between flange. erfand. elendlrmember fenretreetine .the reddrem .the .casina -either iace--of-aichartl on t hemeter... vrflln.uszwhen,the`

plate is operatively positioned as shown in- Ee .11.;2., and 5,1the.prevailingppressures onine upistreamyanddown kstream sides ofthe'plate are recorded on the chart when an element is flowingL through the pipe line to which the exchanger is;

connected. f*

Thegrnecessityforhkeepingy the plate D clean atV alltimes is well known and in systems heretoforeused, thevplates have beennecessarily removedfromtheir casing for such purpose. rIn my 1 exchangenfhowever, Igprovide means for scraping acciunulatedy matter ,fromtheA plate D while ythe the .leading edge thereof frictionallyvengagesthe face of the plate, said plate may'-belen-acted upwardly into chamber 'I of member IB and all matter will be removed therefrom so that when it is later-extended to operative position, theplate will be free ofsuch matter. `lSuch' cleaning operation is accomplishable without-shutting downthe pipeline and in a reasonably 4vshort time.

In systems embodying orifice methodsvthere is Y`frequentlyaa mazeV ofA pipes and connections some o1A which are diicultvofaccess. Hence, I provide the removable top member B which, when the valve C is closed, as shown inFig. 4, may be bodlly removed and inflieu thereof a heavy steel plate B' attached to memberIAbyfmeans of, bolts 4. The substitutionf:plateBqfor member'B is ocasionedwithout stopping-the flow of an element through the exchanger or Without stopping the operation of the recording meter M, for the reason that valve portion I seals the chamber 1 of the element under pressure against leakage.

Of course the outlets 42 and 43 which are not used for establishing connections with the meter M are closed as by means of plugs 50.

In operation, when the body A is appropriately connected in a pressure pipe line (P and P1) and plate D has been accurately positioned so that the orifice O will be concentric with the channels E and E", the top section B of the casing having been secured to member A, the valve C will assume a position as shown in Fig. 2 which will permit the retraction of the plate D upwardly into member B and at the same time seals the lubricant opening 4I. Thus, the ilow of gas or liquid through channels E and E as well as through orice O is continuous and the pressures on opposite sides of plate D are separately recorded on meter M. At any time the plate D may be retracted into chamber 'l of member B for the purpose of cleaning, substitution or examination, following which the valve C is operated to close communication between chambers 1 and l". Then the bolts 4 may be removed and the member B swung outwardly to a sufficient extent to permit access to plate D, or, if necessary, member B may be removed from member A and plate D completely removed therefrom.

At necessary intervals the plate D may be alternately retracted and extended for scraping the up-stream surface thereof so as to free such surface of accumulated matter. When cleaning the plate D, the valve C may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 so as to open passage 4I to chamber 'l' and permit a solvent to be introduced to facilitate a cleaning operation, while at the same voperation positioning the valve for scraping the plate.

LOI

.-TQnmemberB mayI .bemade seas'. tote intera: changeable with all l,exchanger:units l of yasystem andwhen removed fromon'eL unit mayzbelapplied to"other 1simi 1ar units. Following the installation i, oa-plate Dvinbneunit, or theexaminationof member A of theexaminedrunit, as shown in Fig..

5 afterthe valve C has been operated to close chamber V'lfas shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The engagement of surface 24 of plater D with thesurface 23 .of casing A cooperateswith .the

portions 3i! and 3l on said casing and saidplate,

respectively, towedge the plate to the right las. shownjn Fig. 2,-into ysealing engagement with ring ,y F. `,The*cylindricalfportion 32 at1the upper endy of, plate-"1D, .iseengaged pbyvalve portion l0, .a as; shown -in1F.'ig. 4, fonurgingn the plate downwardly,v i1.l3o.;; concentrcl position with respect topassages Egand ,Ei, while screw 2l Yat, the bottom. of Vthe casing ,may be adjusted upwardly into snug con-f tactgwiththe lower end of the plate, therebyconf,

flningjheplatein, operative position. ,Y

Ring F, as is obvious, may be contracted so Vas to permit. its insertion in the ,casing and-by reason of its tension, when so inserted,vthe ring will expand and be heldin its groove against,

displacement because of the tapered external periphery, as shown in Fig. 7. Referring `to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that valve -C Yis shown in closedposition, and the valve must always be, ;closed when the member B is removed, and at the same time the valve C shouldl not be opened, even by accident, for the reason that otherwise the plateDvmight become 4elevated suliiciently to cause a leak of pressure around a portion, at least, of its periphery and thereby provide inaccurate readings on the meter M. To prevent such an occurrence I have provided a set screw 5I threaded through plate B and having its inner end seated in an indentation 52 on the portion I0 of the valve.

When member B is in position on casing A, the pressure in chambers 'l and 'I' may at times be equalized to and correspond to prevailing pressure in channel E by reason of leakage by plate D into chambers l and l except when valve C is closed and excess pressure in chamber 'I may be relieved by opening valve 38.

It may be noted also that the peculiar form of the bottom of plate D and the adjacent seat on the bottom of the casing permits of the slight raising of plate D so as to separate surfaces 23 and 24 without disengaging the plate from its sealing ring F. Thus, when screw 21 is removed, sediment may be drained through bore 26 by the employment of a suitable flushing ud.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising: a casing having a channel therethrough; an orifice plate mounted crosswise of said channel; manually operable means for inserting the orice plate in, and retracting it from said channel, and including a cylindrical transverse chamber through which said plate is movable; a valve extended through said chamber and adjustable into selected position for closing the chamber to the atmosphere and opening the chamber to permit the removal of the orifice plate, said valve having an arcuate elongated outer surface closely fitting against a selected zone of the inner surface of said chamber and a surface joining the longitudinal edges of said sealing surface and spaced away from the path of the orifice plate during the removal of the orice plate, the edges of the arcuate sealing surface of the valve and of the engem;

surface adjoining. said arcuate surfaceaffording scraping edges; and meansmounting said .valve for rotation in said cylinder, .whereby saidrs'craping edges may be b rought into engagement with the .lateral surfaces of said orifice .plate so that a movement ofthe plate relative to thevalve'willremove matter deposited thereon...

2. A device of the character described comprising: a body .having .a longitudinal ow passage therethrough formed intermediate its extremites with a .groove cut in the wall of the flow passage,

a plate adapted to seat in said grooverand to slide. transversely of the flow passageinto and-from av position of `obstruction to the flow of any element through the passage, and having a controlorce therein, said body having a transverse .chamber outwardly` of the ow passage for receiving Asaid plate when it is retracting to inoperative position, a closure member hingedly secured to vthe body for closing said chamber, `and .a valveY rotatably carried by the body on an axis at right angles.

to that of the flow passage and formed .of a single segment spanning said chamber and operative to close the chamber against leakage-Whensaid hinged member is removed, and when -inopen position to be so positioned asV to dispose the chordal surface thereof on an inclined plane relative to the sides of said plate lso as to 4scrape the plate as it is moved `to 'and from operative position, and thereby remove accumulations of matteron-the plate Without removing Ythe plate from the device.

3. A device of the characterv described .in vclaim 2 in which thewall of theflowpassage'is provided onthe downstream side.v of .the lplate receiving groove` .with .a `second. groove -of frusta-conical form=with its minimum diametersiadjacenta side oftheA oriceplateyand a'tensioned packing ring of corresponding cross section seated y in the. second fgroove.

4. A device as 4set forthA in claim 1,'- and 4in addition comprising. a .cylindrical element secured to the upper edge of said oriee plate, the surface joining theedges'of;` the arcuate surface ofthe valve being arranged to bear down-against andhold closed the or-iiiceplate While. the Valve is. valsoin position .forflvclosingthe cylindrical chamber tothe atmosphere..

` BERT E.f-ANDERSON.

' REFERENCES 'ICITED The kfollowing referenesgare of record in the 111e @f ,ths Pet... 12.2 

